In the early morning of May 29, 1914 the RMS Empress of Ireland sunk after it was struck amidships by the Norwegian coaler SS Storstad. The accident claimed 1,012 lives, 167 of those were Salvation Army Officers and Soldiers.

Every year on the anniversary of the accident, The Salvation Army holds a ceremony honouring those who lost their lives in the tragedy at Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto, Ontario. Commissioner Francis participated in the event, pictured above meeting members of the Rees family.